The year is coming to a close and there are some last minute things you can do to get the most out of your tax returns next year.

Over at the Salvation Army Thrift Store on Jefferson Highway, all donations are welcome and appreciated. With the year coming to a close, handing your unwanted belongings to the business can help you get a good tax return in 2015.

"If you have an old clunker car and you're thinking about selling it, but you know you can only get a couple of hundred dollars, you may be better giving it to a charity," certified public accountant Charles Brown said. "You may wind up with a better tax deduction and savings."

Brown said another thing to consider is the Residential Energy Credit.

"If you have a home and want to do any improvements or repairs, [you'll] want to prioritize those that are energy-saving," Brown said. "Energy-saving items are insulation, hot water heaters [and] ceiling fans."

There's also the Child Care Credit. Children under the age of 14 can give you a 20 percent credit on all expenses.

"This is a little known, but that also includes extra-curricular activities to the kid's summer camps [or] anything that allows both parents to work," he said.

And if you're a teacher, tell your CPA about the teaching supplies you purchased for the class with your own money. Brown said you can treat school supplies like any other job-related expense and deduct them as miscellaneous itemized deductions.

And finally, Brown said the most important thing you can do is get organized. Gather your receipts and all your documents in one place.